When I was growing up, the word “Advent” was rarely used in our home, if ever. In fact, I first heard the word many years later in my twenties while working at a large Methodist church. Though I’ve grown up in church all my life (and I’m very grateful for it), I had to look that word up at the time to understand what it meant in the Church calendar.

I understand firsthand how “Christianese” church language can feel to newcomers, sometimes like another language altogether. Add in words like “Trinity”, “Holy Spirit”, “Sanctification”, and many others, and many people are left shaking their heads in confusion.

Yet today I have a deep appreciation for each of these words. That’s because so many words in the Christian religion hold powerful truths that are life-giving, beautiful, and downright awe-inspiring. They teach us deep and meaningful truths that hold special places in our hearts for a lifetime, giving us strength, joy, peace, and hope. And these truths aren’t just truths we hold in our mind–they’re real realities we experience in our heart throughout our lives.

And when it comes to Christmas, the Christmas season holds some of the greatest words and phrases of all. From “angels” to “virgin birth”, from “incarnation” to “Advent”, we use these words as a part of a beautiful church family and story that’s much bigger than ourselves. As the Christmas season unfolds, these words come alive to us, filled with purpose, and they infuse our Christmas season with meaning and joy.

What is Advent?

The word “advent” literally means the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event. And in the Church calendar, “Advent” is a season that signifies a time of preparation leading up to a significant event in the Church calendar, the birth of Christ, celebrated on Christmas Day. Just as Lent leads to Easter, during the Christmas season we prepare for the arrival of the Savior, the birth of Christ in Bethlehem.

Advent is celebrated during the four Sundays leading up to Christmas Day, and lastly on Christmas Eve. This year in 2025, Advent begins on Sunday, November 30th, which is next Sunday!

To celebrate Advent, many Christian families buy Advent wreaths, candle holders, and Advent candles, placing them together in their home. (FYI, these items are very affordable. I bought my Advent candles, wreath, and candle holder at Hobby Lobby for about $15 total!). We also go to church every Sunday during Advent to be encouraged and experience the story of Christmas amongst other believers. And on each Sunday evening, families gather together to read Scripture or Advent devotionals and light one of the Advent candles after dark.

Each of the Advent candles represent something different:

• The First Sunday of Advent – On the first Sunday of Advent, the first purple candle is lit. This candle is called the “Prophecy Candle” and symbolizes hope.
  
• The Second Sunday of Advent – On the second Sunday of Advent, the second purple candle is lit. It’s called the “Bethlehem Candle” and symbolizes faith.
  
• The Third Sunday of Advent – On the third Sunday of Advent, the pink candle, the “Shepherd’s Candle”, is lit and symbolizes joy.
  
• The Fourth Sunday of Advent – On the fourth Sunday of Advent, the final purple candle is lit, the “Angel’s Candle”, that symbolizes peace.
  
• The Christ Candle – As an optional add-on, many families will place a large white candle in the center of their wreath. Known as the “Christ Candle” it is lit on Christmas Eve and symbolizes Christ’s birth.

Advent candles are often lit after dark to symbolize hope and light in the darkness. While they are lit on each of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas, and sometimes daily, many families also light them at dinner or during evening prayers. Typically, Advent candles are lit only on Sundays during the prayer service or meal and are extinguished afterwards.

On the First Sunday of Advent, one candle is lit. On the Second Sunday, two candles are lit. On the Third Sunday, three candles are lit. And on the Fourth Sunday, four candle are lit. Lastly, all five candles are lit on Christmas Eve leading up to the final lighting of the Christ candle!

Today, the lighting of the Advent wreath has lost some of it’s popularity and tradition, especially in nondenominational congregations. However, it’s a beautiful Christian tradition, one you can incorporate into your home, perhaps even starting a new tradition for you and your family!

And when it comes to Advent, another tradition to consider is the Advent calendar, very interactive and typically oriented towards children. There are hundreds if not thousands of variations of secular “Advent calendars”, and many of them are super silly. On the other hand, a Christian Advent calendar is filled with prayer prompts, Bible verses, sometimes little treats for the little ones, and more! It tells the story of Christmas, and its purpose is to draw people back to the reason for the season, Jesus’ birth.

For me personally, I love to see the Advent wreath and candles on my table throughout the season of Advent. It’s a beautiful reminder throughout the week that we are in a season of waiting and expectation for the arrival of Christ. It helps me to look forward to each upcoming Sunday of Advent. And, it’s a beautiful reminder that Advent is not about me, and I am not the center of the Christmas season. Christ is.

If you’re looking to join me this year in celebration of the Advent Season with an Advent wreath, I encourage you to purchase an Advent devotional (Here’s a great list of Advent devotionals to browse!) to have something to read on the Four Sundays of Advent along with your candle lighting.

This Christmas season, life won’t be perfect, and unexpected things will pop up. Yet we can turn to Christ and make His Word the center of our heart, which always gives hope. We can experience the peace of the Holy Spirit, Who comforts us in times of heartbreak and trouble. We can focus on what truly matters most and find joy in God’s Word. And finally, we can have faith that God is good and will meet us this Christmas season with his loving grace and power.

Isaiah 9:6-7, KJV

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his should: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”